Expect Ramped Up DWI/Drug Enforcement Patrols On Thanksgiving

TOMS RIVER, NJ - Ocean County Prosector Joseph D. Coronato doesn't want a repeat of last year's carnage over the Thanksgiving holiday, when seven people died on New Jersey highways.

So authorities will have numerous drunk driving/traffic enforcement checkpoints and roving patrols throughout Ocean County searching for impaired drivers, spokesman Al Della Fave said.

The bulk of the deaths over last year's holiday involved passengers in vehicles. Two of the six fatal accidents involved drugs or alcohol, Coronato said.

"Drivers must remember the safety of their passengers and others depends solely on their commitment to drive responsibility," the prosecutor said. "The Thanksgiving holiday is for celebrating family and loved ones. We beg those who get behind the wheel this holiday to drive responsibly and make smart choices to assure this holiday remains a time for celebration and not mourning.”

The program will also target drivers who may be under the influence of narcotics by using two Drug Recognition Experts at each checkpoint, he said.

The county also oversees a countywide call out system for DRE’s to respond and assist agencies in conducting evaluations of subjects suspected to be operating a motor vehicle under the influence of narcotics.

"The dedicated law enforcement officers of our county will spend their holiday away from family trying to repeat that zero fatality weekend," Coronato said. "Please do your part by simply driving safely.”

Ocean County had no fatal accidents during the 2016 Thanksgiving holiday weekend and Coronato wants to keep it that way.

The checkpoint program will be conducted by local police agencies in conjunction with detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit focusing on both intoxicated and drug impaired drivers.

The program is operated and coordinated by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Vehicular Homicide Unit under the direction of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Michael Weatherstone.

Photo: Patch file photo